Business Development Manager

ILM Highland; Alness; Remote; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

ILM Highland is seeking an ambitious Business Development Manager to join our Senior Management Team and drive growth, income diversification, and strategic partnerships.

You will translate ideas into viable, revenue-generating projects that align with our mission to deliver positive outcomes for People, Place and Planet. This high-visibility role requires energy, initiative, and stakeholder relationship mastery.

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial, motivated, and driven to achieve results.
• Strong relationship builder with networking skills.
• Commercially aware and financially astute.
• Skilled in identifying and converting opportunities into sustainable income.
• Strategic in thinking but practical in delivery.
• Passionate about creating positive impact through social enterprise.
• Comfortable working with senior stakeholders, Board members, funders, and commercial partners.

Responsibilities

• Drive sustainable growth through the development of new services, markets, contracts, and funding opportunities.
• Identify and secure new income streams that support ILM Highland’s long-term ambitions.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships across the public, private and third sectors.
• Develop compelling business cases, proposals, and investment opportunities.
• Increase ILM Highland’s profile, reputation, and market presence.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Management Team to deliver strategic objectives and organisational growth.
• Lead and support projects from concept through to implementation and delivery.
• Ensure opportunities deliver both commercial value and meaningful social and environmental impact.

Skills

Entrepreneurial

Relationship builder

Commercially aware

Opportunity conversion

Strategic thinker

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Drive Growth. Create Impact. Shape the Future.

ILM Highland is looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Business Development Manager to join our Senior Management Team and help drive the next phase of our growth.

This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in a respected Highland social enterprise, developing new income streams, securing strategic partnerships, identifying new market opportunities, and helping deliver positive outcomes for People, Place and Planet.

About the Role

Working closely with the CEO and Head of Operations, you will be responsible for identifying, developing, and delivering opportunities that strengthen ILM Highland’s long-term sustainability, social impact, and commercial success.

You will spot opportunities where others see challenges, turning ideas into practical, commercially viable projects that support our mission and create lasting impact.

This is a highly visible role requiring energy, initiative, commercial awareness, and the ability to build trusted relationships with funders, customers, commercial partners, and key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive sustainable growth through the development of new services, markets, contracts, and funding opportunities.
• Identify and secure new income streams that support ILM Highland’s long-term ambitions.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships across the public, private and third sectors.
• Develop compelling business cases, proposals, and investment opportunities.
• Increase ILM Highland’s profile, reputation, and market presence.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Management Team to deliver strategic objectives and organisational growth.
• Lead and support projects from concept through to implementation and delivery.
• Ensure opportunities deliver both commercial value and meaningful social and environmental impact.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is:

• Entrepreneurial, motivated, and driven to achieve results.
• A strong relationship builder with excellent networking skills.
• Commercially aware and financially astute.
• Skilled in identifying and converting opportunities into sustainable income.
• Strategic in thinking but practical in delivery.
• Passionate about creating positive impact through social enterprise.
• Comfortable working with senior stakeholders, Board members, funders, and commercial partners.

Experience & Skills

• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience developing business cases and securing investment, funding, or new contracts.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Experience in waste management, recycling, environmental services, manufacturing, industrial sectors, or the circular economy.
• Experience within a social enterprise or mission-led organisation.
• Knowledge of funding and procurement processes across public, private, and third sectors.

Why Join ILM Highland?

At ILM Highland you’ll have the opportunity to:

Support People by creating opportunities for employment, training, volunteering, and community support.

Strengthen Place by helping develop services and partnerships that benefit communities across the Highlands.

Protect Planet by advancing recycling, reuse, repair, and the circular economy.

This is more than just a business development role. It’s an opportunity to help shape the future of an organisation that delivers real social, environmental, and economic impact every day.

Join ILM Highland and help create opportunities for People, strengthen Place, and protect Planet.

Job Type: Full Time